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The deal will require the two Zimbabwe internationals to extend their contracts with the former African Champions for a further three years with the Green Machine being given the option to use the duo in the next two years.
Although Nyandoro and Samakwere have struggled to nail down a permanent slot at TP Mazembe, especially after the arrival of new players last year, the club’s owner, Moise Katumbi, still wants them to remain part of the family.
The Zimbabweans believe a new adventure would help them revive their careers and have chosen CAPS United as the launching ground of their return to the big time.
But they have been frustrated by the paperwork needed for them to turn out for Makepekepe and were conspicuous by their absence from the team in their first league tie at the weekend.
The Green Machine have now upped their bid to secure reverse international clearances that would enable their Irish coach Sean Connor to field the former Warriors internationals.
Nyandoro and Samakwere had spent the last two years plying their trade with Democratic Republic of Congo champions TP Mazembe before deciding to come back home and revive their flirtation with the domestic top-flight.
Once they got wind of the pair’s availability, CAPS United soon jumped on the opportunity and sealed deals with the former Monomotapa duo.
Nyandoro and Samakwere then joined the CAPS United squad during their 11-week intensive pre-season training camp and caught the eye of Connor who made no secret of the fact that he was building his plans for an onslaught on the 2012 Castle Lager championship around the pair.
But CAPS United and the Northern Irishman have had to wait a little longer before they can throw Nyandoro and Samakwere into the fray.
The CAPS United camp were on Sunday left to rue the pair’s absence after they wasted a glut of chances and came out with a point from a goalless draw against Shabanie Mine at Maglas.
That CAPS United were the dominant side in their opening league match of the season but just lacked the cutting edge put into perspective how much they will need the services of Nyandoro and Samakwere and this season.
The two players have not only matured with age but have gained experience from playing Champions League football with Monoz and later with former African champions TP Mazembe.
After missing the opening game against Shabanie Mine, CAPS United are praying that the players could finally be cleared in time for the next assignment — their first home game for 2012 against Chicken Inn at Gwanzura on Saturday.
CAPS United chief executive, Maxwell Mironga, said yesterday they were pulling all the stops to ensure that Nyandoro and Samakwere, who have already been provisionally registered with the Premier Soccer League, are cleared to play.
Mironga revealed that CAPS United had endured a three-week nightmare trying to get in touch with the Congolese but also acknowledged the support his club had been getting from Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze to try and “speed things up’’.
“The good thing is that the communication lines are now open. In the past three weeks it had been a nightmare getting hold of the DRC guys.
“Last week we also flew Chris and Edzai Kasinauyo (the players’ manager) and they held a meeting with the TP Mazembe officials on the matter,’’ Mironga said.
The CAPS United chief executive said it had emerged that TP Mazembe are claiming ownership of the players and have only indicated that they could release them to Makepekepe on a loan deal.
“The players had indicated to us that they are now out of contract with TP Mazembe but the club insists that they still belong to them.
“I think there is also a clause in their agreement with the players they have the first option over the players.
“So TP Mazembe are now looking at giving us the players on a loan basis so if they are to clear them to us it will be on that loan basis.
“We hope to get a clearer picture by Thursday (tomorrow) but we remain hopeful that the clearances will come in time so that the coaches can start using the players,’’ Mironga said.
Interestingly both CAPS United and Chicken Inn fired blanks in their opening league assignments but Makepe-kepe could argue that they were away at the Maglas turf that proved difficult for them over the years. CAPS United’s last league win at Shabanie came via a solitary Brian Badza strike in 2004.
But with the way they dominated the asbestos miners, even Chicken Inn coach Adam Ndlovu, who watched the encounter in Zvishavane, must have been left a
worried man as his side, who were also held goalless by youthful Gunners at Luveve, make the long trip to the capital.
With three of the top-fight teams — champions Dynamos, runners-up FC Platinum and Hwange who finished fourth, being involved in continental assignments, the PSL have had to postpone some of the second round matches pencilled in for the long Easter weekend.
Dynamos had been scheduled to travel to Mutare for a date with Buffaloes but they will instead be hosting Liga Muculmana of Mozambique in a Champions League first round, second leg assignment at Rufaro on Sunday.
FC Platinum, who would have been at home to Highlanders at Mandava, will be on a similar mission with DeMbare as they fly out to Khartoum to face Sudanese champions EL Merreikh on Saturday night.
Hwange’s game away to Blue Rangers has also been postponed as the coalminers have gone to Sudan for a Confederation Cup tie against El Amal Atbara on Friday night.
PSL Fixtures
Friday: Monomotapa v Harare City (Rufaro), Quelaton v Shabanie Mine (Luveve), Gunners v Motor Action (Lafarge)
Saturday: CAPS United v Chicken Inn (Gwanzura)
Sunday: Hardbody v Black Mambas (Ascot)
Postponed matches: FC Platinum v Highlanders, Buffaloes v Dynamos, Blue Rangers v Hwange
Online Reporter